Spring bar



Aug, 14, 1945.

D. ME GAR SPRING BAR Filed Aug. 14; 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WW

Aug. 14, 1945. D. MEGAR SPRING BAR Fil ed Aug. 14, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F lllllll IIHIIIIIUHIII 0/) wp MEG/4E INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 14, 1945 This invention relates generally to'spring bars, but more specifically to a spring bar to accomodatevarious distances between openings in a mounting member associated with wrist-watches andthe like.

' 'Themain object of the invention resides inthe provision of a spring bar wherein the trunnions thereof are retractable 'in-opposite directions along the length of the springbar tub to aposition substantially intermediate the length there- "A further object of the inventionresides in the provision 1 of tubular trunnions in slida'ble engagement with the'springibar tubewhereina spring passing through the tube is compressed between the outer closed'v-ends of the trunnions allowing extensive retractability and resiliently urged functional outer positions of the trunnions.

Another object of the invention resides in the construction of a spring bar of the above nature which is suitable for use with mounting members having blind openings and wherein the trunnion members substantially throughout the length thereof are of uniform diameter.

Another object of the invention is to produce a strong spring bar which will accommodate different lengths between the openings of the mounting member within greater limits than has been heretofore possible and which can be easily and quickly assembled.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification are drawings showing a preferred form of the invention wherein the trunnions are slidably mounted on and externally of the main tube and other preferred form of the invention wherein the trunnions are slidably mounted internally of the main tube. In the drawings corresponding reference characters designate corresponding parts of the several views, the views being as follows:

'Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of the spring bar having externally mounted trunnions, the view being in elevation and partly sectioned.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal view in elevation partly sectioned showing the trunnions in full retracted positions.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the plane 3-3 thereof.

' Figure 4 is a longitudinal view in elevation partly sectioned of another form of spring bar wherein the trunnions are internally slidable with respect to the tube.

Figure 2 through as cert-N o ",izis azn srRING BAR.

ynayiaMegai-, Names; 33; 1 k Application August 14, 19 4s;rsenairna iesjrs-i mins ;rcrlz tsif Figure 5 is a vie-win!elevation; showin he spring bar of- Figure l finrullretracted position?" "Figure "6 is a transverse sectional view of- Fig'ure In acc'ordance with theinvention and the p'referre'd forms thereof *shown in the drawings, there is provided a main tubular 'niember l0 on th'e' external periphery of which s'irnilar and opposite tubular trunnions -I l-and'lZ are adapted' toslide. Trunnion' I I is provided with an" annular internal bead I 3- suitably formed adjacent" theinner edge and which is adaptmi to abut the annular stop snou'lder formed -fro'm 1 :an ont-turned -iannular bearing' surface portlon or expanded section 14 at" one endof: tube 0." It is to be observed that the internal diameter of trunnion is slightly more than the external diameter of flange 14 whil the external diameter of tube I0 is slightly less than the internal diameter of bead l 3. Such dimensioning allows trunnion I I to be in a slidable fit with tube l0 and the parts l3 and I4 serve as limits for the outermost position of trunnion ll.

At the end of trunnion II is a closedwall 15 having a central annular recess IS on the inner side and a reduced engaging member I 1 proceeding axially outwardly and adapted to fit the opening of a mounting member. The shoulder I8 formed between the engaging member I! and the wall I5 is preferably inclined upwardly toward the longitudinal axis of trunnion II to facilitate removal of the spring bar from the mounting member as will hereinafter more fully be described.

The opposite trunnion I2 is similarly provided with an internal bead l9 suitably formed adjacent the inner edge ngaging the shoulder formed from the outwardly turned or expanded annular section 20 of tube 10 while the opposite end of trunnion I2 is provided with a similar closed wall 2| having a central annular recess 22 on the lower side and having a reduced engaging member 23 for the opposite opening in the mounting member. The shoulder 24 formed between wall 2| and engaging member 23 is similarly upwardly inclined toward the longitudinal axis of trunnion l2.

Compressed between annular recesses l6 and 22 and passing through tube I0 is a spring 25 which normally urges trunnions II and I: in outward and functional position. By virtue of the length of spring 25, it is seen'thai; trunnions l l and I2 are given a wide spread between retracted positions and maximum functioning positions in a mounting member to enable the spring bar to fit a series of mounting members wherein the distance between the openings vary within reasonable limits. Such a construction conto angle out the spring bar for removal. is i In assembling and constructing the spring bar, either trunnion such as H is passed over "tube I and then the internal annular bead or reduced section I3 is suitably formed to engage fiangeor tion [4. Each of the trunnions I I and I2 are similarly provided with reduced engaging members IS" on end walls 16', the spring I'I' being adapted to be compressed between the inner sides of the walls 16, the latter having inclined shoulders 18. In. assembling the spring bar of Figures 4, 5 and 6 the inturned edges M are formed after the trunnions l2 are inserted in tube Althoughthe spring bars described. in detail show merely preferred forms of ;the invention, I wish it understood that the invention also covers other forms encompassed within the scope of the appended claims.

'I "claim':

lnAspring bar connection comprising an elongated tubular body having cylindrical bearing expanded section M as a stop member. There- 7:5.- after, the spring is inserted through tube 11,,

and the other trunnion I2 is passed over theop posite end of tube l0 and the internal bead or reduced-section I9 is formed thereon to engage with the section 20, the trunnion lastinserted being held against the compression spring2 5.

In theform of the invention shownin Figures 4,5 and 6 trunnions II and 12- are adapted to slide, along the inner periphery of tube 10', each trunnion having an outer beador flange I3 adjacent the inner edge adapted to engage with an inturned end flange or reduced section l4'- on the tube, the said parts cooperating to act as stops for the outermost position of the trunnions. The external diameter of bead I3 is slightly less than the internal diameter of tube l0" while the external diameter of trunnion i2? is slightly less than the internal diameter of secsurfaces at each'end of greater diameter than thevintermediate portion of the body and providing annular stop shoulders adjacent said ends, tubular trunnions slidably mounted on the bearing surfaces at opposite ends-of the body and having their inner ends reduced in diameter to slidablyengagethe body between said end bearing surfaces, and a compression springmounted within the body and trunnions and normally urging the reduced ends of the trunnions toward opposite: ends of the body; 1 2. The structure defined in claim 1', in which the cylindrical body is externally flangedto provide end bearing surfaces and the tubular trunnions are reduced at their inner ends to provide annular beads for slidably engaging the body between the bearing surfaces thereof.

DAVID MEGAR. 

